How It Works

Yes, Open Learning Academy courses are accredited through the Higher Learning Commission.

Beginning in August 2024,  CHM-215 Lab Experiments in Organic Chemistry I will be available to enroll . There is no lecture portion of this course.  A lab kit will be required to complete the lab experiments.  If you require an Organic Chemistry I lab and lecture, please enroll in CHM-205 Organic Chemistry I as it includes both lecture and lab and is a 4 credit hour course.

No, Federal Financial Aid (Pell Grants, Federal Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Parent Plus Loans, and Grad Plus Loans) is not available for students enrolled in the Open Learning Academy as students are not pursuing a degree at Doane University. Degree seeking Doane students should talk to the Registrar's Office to see if a course offered through Open Learning Academy can be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Yes, please refer to the plan provider's distribution rules and regulations. A student will be required to pay up and register for courses and then if 529 Plan payment is received by the school then the student will be reimbursed any credit amount on their Doane student account.

The Department of Veteran Affairs has updated its rules & regulations pertaining to when students can use their tuition assistance benefits.
According to the new policy, VA students taking courses through the Open Learning Academy are no longer eligible to use VA assistance benefits towards non-degree seeking courses.

Any student who wishes to use VA benefits must be accepted into a Doane Program.
There is an exception to this rule: If the VA student will be transferring the course credit to another school in which they are enrolled in a degree-seeking program, the primary school can send Doane University a Guest letter authorizing the specific courses.

For more information, please contact Daniel Dibbern at [email protected] or call 402.467.9070

No, due to the accelerated nature of these courses payment plans are not available for Open Learning Academy courses.

Yes, since Open Learning Academy courses are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid or a traditional payment plan, there are alternative private student loan options for a non-degree seeking student through a bank/lender. We encourage students to do some extensive research to determine if an alternative private student loan is the right fit for you. Please note that an alternative private student loan must be in the student's name, but can include a co-signer if required by the lender. Make sure that the private student loan that you are applying for is for a Non-Degree Seeking Alternative Private Student Loan. If you choose a private alternative student loan and have been approved through a lender's online application, the Doane Financial Aid office will need to certify the loan and register you for the course. Download and complete the OLA Request form. This form requires a physical signature and must be sent to the Doane Financial Aid Office at [email protected] or faxed to 402-466-4228.

No, Doane University will only certify an Alternative Private Student Loan for the cost of tuition and fees for the courses listed on the Open Learning Academy Private Loan Request Form.

Yes, we understand that course planning, pairing and sequencing are important and changes can be made to an Alternative Private Student Loan certification prior to when courses start for the term. Once the course starts no changes can be made to the certification of the loan.  If changes need to be made to courses prior to the start of classes please contact [email protected] and [email protected] to notify both departments of any changes that need to occur. 

Yes, please refer to your employer's tuition reimbursement policy in regards to non-degree seeking courses. A student will be required to pay upfront and register for courses and then if the student receives any tuition reimbursement and it is received by the university then the student will be reimbursed any credit amount on their Doane student account. 

Student who choose to drop their course are eligible for a refund of their tuition through the first week of the term.

• 100% refund through the first week
• 40% refund through the second week
• 0% after second week

No, the IRS does not require universities to provide Form 1098-T documents for non-degree seeking courses. Learn more about college credit requirements at IRS.gov.  However, you can login into Self-Service with your Doane credentials and download a detailed receipt. 

Proctoring is only used in certain courses and may not be required for your course. Please review your course syllabi for proctoring requirements. To learn more about proctored exams, click here.

Yes, TutorMe is a free online tutoring service that connects students with qualified tutors in a wide range of subjects and academic levels. It offers on-demand, 24/7 tutoring through live chat, video, and screen-sharing, making it convenient for students to get help when they need it. TutorMe covers subjects from math and science to language learning and test preparation. Students can receive personalized assistance, track their progress, and access a library of resources. It's a flexible and accessible platform designed to support and enhance students' learning experiences. Once your course begins, you will find a link to TutorMe directly in your Canvas shell for the course(s) you are taking.

All textbooks are integrated electronically into your Canvas course at no additional cost.  If you require a physical textbook, please contact the Doane Bookstore for assistance at [email protected] 

Lab kit fees are separate from your tuition.  To obtain your lab kit, log in to your Canvas course and follow the directions in module one.  Lab kits are purchased directly through a specific link provided by Science Interactive.  Courses requiring lab kits are planned with shipping times in mind; your kit should arrive at your home within 5-7 business days. Even if you enroll late, you will receive your lab kit before the hands-on lab modules begin. 

Starting the 2024-2025 catalog year, Open Learning Academy courses will change to three-letter course prefixes as part of a University alignment initiative (ex: BIOL will become BIO). If you've previously taken courses with OLA in an earlier catalog year as well as the current one, your transcript will show a mix of four-letter and three-letter prefix courses. It's important to note that despite these changes, the content and objectives of the courses remain consistent, and they are considered equivalent. Rest assured, the quality and rigor of your education remain unchanged, no matter the prefix reflected on your academic record.

Official transcripts will be available 7-10 days after course completion.  To order a transcript, visit our Transcript Request page or contact the registrar at 1.800.333.6263.

You are strongly advised to only enroll in one course during (w)interterm. Students will not be permitted to enroll in more than two courses, due to the fast paced nature of the courses.